8 Tips to save on Apartment Living

I've lived in eight different apartment communities thus far with experiences ranging from pleasant to miserable.  If you have chosen to reside in an apartment (er, togetherment) for financial reasons or just to enjoy maintenance-free living, consider these money saving tips to avoid huge headaches.

1. Higher isn't always cheaper.
Living several flights up has its advantages.  No heavy footsteps to complain about, less road noise than street level, and a great gluteal workout traipsing up three flights each way. Where I live, apartments charge less for units on higher floors.  But the biggest cost eater that you won't find out about until well into your lease is ridiculous heating and (especially) cooling costs.  

Apartments are slapped together with bare bones insulation and cheap A/C units. I have been told in the past in one particular complex that the interior temperature will not be any cooler than 20° below outdoor temperature.  This means suffering through sweltering summers in 83° indoor temps with no recourse. Go for a middle unit for the best insulation and avoid road noise.  

2. Add up the extras.
Does your prospective community charge additional amounts for garbage pickup, water, cable, fitness center, and gas, or are they included in rent?  How much are the initial fees considering the specials offered?  Many of these costs add up over the term of your lease and you'll be looking at hundreds of dollars in price differences.  Several of our apartment communities offered CARES Teams that served free dinners and breakfasts saving the cost of one meal each week, so consider perks as well.

3.  Know your rights and get the number to your local health department.
If the landlord refuses to fix a busted water heater, threaten to call the officials.  When the pool is dangerously disgusting, get on the phone.  The manager can't lease apartments when top amenities are condemned.

4.  When renewing your lease, investigate current specials.
It doesn't matter that you were an ideal tenant paying your rent three weeks early every month and referring all your friends to the neighborhood.  Joe Blow stumbling in off the street will probably get a better deal on an apartment than you will on your renewal.  Despite the costs of tenant turnover, owners are willing to take the chance that you will renew anyway--even with a high rent increase.  Find out what new move-ins are getting and request the same.  Bargaining can't hurt.

5. Proximity matters.
Do your research when it comes to commutes and shopping. Maybe you are considering an apartment farther from the city for a lower cost, but you might quickly eat up the difference in gas or public transportation fees.  If you can walk to your most frequented locations, go for it.  

6. Check out authorized service providers.
Not every community allows the same cable, Internet, and electric providers.  Check out kilowatt-hours and packages for authorized companies to prepare for differences in cost.  Some energy providers vary by up to 40%.  

7. Save your lease and keep written communication of all service requests.
It's not uncommon to have initial monetary snafus when moving in--the leasing specialist has the incorrect amount input into the computer or doesn't have an accurate record of prorated pay.  Your lease agreement and receipts will set the record straight.

8. Make an appointment with your manager to have a move out walk-through.
You don't want to embark on a he-said-she-said war over the final condition of your unit.  Avoid getting saddled with a recarpeting charge or oven cleaning fee.  Have your manager inspect the apartment and get a signed letter stating that no additional charges will be made.

Learn from my mistakes and avoid repeating them to save your bank account.  Be proactive and never accept substandard service during your residence--a big chunk of what you pay each month goes toward having maintenance taken care of (or it might just be better to buy a house).  Stay on friendly terms with your office staff and you'll have a better chance of enjoying your domicile.